Their best laid plans for a pipeline across Afghanistan (once the troublesome Taliban were sedated) seem to be on permanent hold. Then there was the Serbian Kosovo pipeline, once those pesky Serbs were bombed into submission. No pipe in sight. Only way a canal will be dug is by nuclear explosions, once proposed for the Nicaragua canal, but these will be haphazard.
One item that is missing from the articles is the defense of assets. The Chinese have the right to defend Chinese state-owned enterprises SOEs and privately owned assets. This means the Chinese can provide security using military contingents in other countries. Today, China is using Wagner to provide security in Africa for convenience, and western and local political concerns over installed Chinese military presence.
@Richard:
Here are a couple of unclass, non-paywall articles describing the situation that you may find interesting:
You don't need a canal to get the gas to Europe or the US
Their best laid plans for a pipeline across Afghanistan (once the troublesome Taliban were sedated) seem to be on permanent hold. Then there was the Serbian Kosovo pipeline, once those pesky Serbs were bombed into submission. No pipe in sight. Only way a canal will be dug is by nuclear explosions, once proposed for the Nicaragua canal, but these will be haphazard.
One item that is missing from the articles is the defense of assets. The Chinese have the right to defend Chinese state-owned enterprises SOEs and privately owned assets. This means the Chinese can provide security using military contingents in other countries. Today, China is using Wagner to provide security in Africa for convenience, and western and local political concerns over installed Chinese military presence.
@Richard:
Here are a couple of unclass, non-paywall articles describing the situation that you may find interesting:
https://carnegieendowment.org/2023/01/26/china-s-military-diplomacy-and-overseas-security-activities-pub-89687
https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/07/27/china-military-naval-bases-plan-infrastructure/
https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/FP_20230207_europe_basing_gresh.pdf
https://www.cfr.org/tracker/china-overseas-ports
https://www.mei.edu/publications/chinas-growing-maritime-presence-egypts-ports-and-suez-canal
https://dialogo-americas.com/articles/chinas-port-investments-threaten-world-sovereignty/
And:
https://ecfr.eu/article/chinas-new-military-base-in-africa-what-it-means-for-europe-and-america/
Far out Richard! I did not know Haifa port is owned by the Chinese now...and I'm actually from there.
good article